The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new immigration court docket, the Recent Arrivals (RA) Docket, to streamline the resolution of irregular crossing at the U.S. Southwest border. The new schedule is for noncitizen single individuals. The DOJ also submitted a final rule to the Federal Register to address growing irregular crossing cases in backlog.

Noncitizen single adult cases will be placed on the RA Docket. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) will prioritize the RA Docket. Five cities will support the RA Docket: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. A final decision will be issued within 180 days, with some case-by-case variations. Individuals are provided time to seek legal representation.

The final rule submitted to the Federal Register, Efficient Case and Docket Management in Immigration Proceedings, establishes standards for immigration adjudicators to resolve cases efficiently. Cases that are ready to be quickly resolved will be prioritized by adjudicators.

The DHS and DOJ prompt Congress to pass the Senate’s bipartisan border security bill. The proposed bill gives DHS and DOJ with additional resources and authority that are critically needed, including more immigration judges, asylum officers, and support staff.

As always, if you have a question about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Our firm works closely with each client to ensure they get the right advice for their specific situations.

Immigration Courts Recent Arrivals Docket